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Blogs: Recognizing the Early Signs of Depression

BCBSIL Connect Team

We all deal with feelings of sadness from time to time. Grief over the loss of a loved one. A painful breakup. Struggles with health issues. They are just a few of the events that can affect us emotionally and physically. So, what's the difference b...
- May 23, 2023
Blogs: Saving Money Is Simple with Blue365

BCBSIL Connect Team

If you like saving money, check out Blue365®. You have lots of chances to save big with the free health and wellness discount program offered to Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois (BCBSIL) members. Who Can Use Blue365? Any member of a&n...
- May 23, 2023
Blogs: Dishing on Digital Eyestrain

BCBSIL Connect Team

Most Americans get about seven hours of sleep each night. So what are we doing with the other 17 hours a day? For many of us, a lot of those hours are spent looking at a screen – and not just computer screens at work. The growing use of smartph...
- May 22, 2023
Blogs: Eat Your Fruits and Veggies for Better Health – and Mood

BCBSIL Connect Team

Many people know that eating fresh fruit and veggies each day is good for your physical health. It turns out eating plenty of them may also make you happier. A 2022 study published in the B...
- May 19, 2023
Blogs: Poor Hearing and Falls are Connected in Seniors

BCBSIL Connect Team

Hearing loss can cause many day-to-day challenges. You may have trouble hearing people around the dinner table or in a busy restaurant. You may worry about not hearing the phone or doorbell. Hearing loss is more than an inconvenience. Studies show he...
- May 18, 2023
Blogs: 10 Reasons to Get Up and Get Active Today

BCBSIL Connect Team

Long hours in front of a computer monitor or television screen isn’t the best thing for your mind or body. Step away. Take a break. Lace up your tennis shoes and get a move on! Just 150 minutes of physical activity each week makes a big differe...
- May 10, 2023
Tu Salud: Hombres, hagan su salud una prioridad

EquipoConnect

Eres un hombre saludable. Nunca te pides un día de reposo. Comes sano y te ejercitas. Nunca has tenido caries. De todas formas, las pruebas preventivas son importantes para tu salud. Las pruebas de detección ayudan a encontrar problema...
- May 2, 2023
Blogs: Stop on Red: Reducing Exposure on High Pollution Days

BCBSIL Connect Team

RED ALERT! When air pollution levels are high, a red alert warns the public of health dangers. Poor air quality is bad for us all. It's an even greater risk for those with breathing issues. Today, a national system reports daily air qualit...
- May 1, 2023
Blogs: Do Your Prescription Drugs Need Prior Authorization?

BCBSIL Connect Team

Have you ever gone to pick up a new medicine, only to have the pharmacist tell you it needs prior authorization? It happens to many of us. Here are things you can do to avoid leaving empty handed. When you receive a new prescription, ask your doctor ...
- April 30, 2023
Blogs: Build Resilience to Manage Stress and Change

BCBSIL Connect Team

Building mental resilience can help you handle stress and the ups and downs of life. That can lead to improved overall mental and physical health and a better quality of life. Mental resilience is the ability to adapt to change, stressful situations,...
- April 25, 2023

Be an Advocate for Your Own Care

BCBSIL Connect Team October 16, 2023

Prevention is an important part of being healthy. That can mean having a yearly exam. It can mean having routine screening tests. When an illness can’t be avoided, stepping up to help direct your own health care is critical. Get Involved in You....
- 9735 Views
The Link Between Diabetes and Depression

BCBSIL Connect Team October 7, 2023

Your mental health touches so many parts of your daily life. It affects how you think and feel, handle stress, relate to others, and make choices. Your thoughts and feelings affect how healthy you are. It isn’t surprising that having a mental .....
- 13661 Views
Eat Whole Grains for a Healthier You

BCBSIL Connect Team October 6, 2023

Adding more whole grains to your diet is an easy way to get more health benefits from the foods you eat. If you picture a slice of dry wheat bread when you hear “whole grains,” don't worry. There are a lot of tasty whole grains waiti...
- 5218 Views
Every Breath You Take

BCBSIL Connect Team October 5, 2023

Your home may be warm and cozy, but is it good for your lungs? People tend to take their lungs for granted. We know we can’t live without them, but we don’t spend much time taking care of them. But as outdoor activities give way to indoo...
- 13278 Views
Before the Fall: Take These Steps to Stay Safe

BCBSIL Connect Team October 5, 2023

You’ve heard the old saying: “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” It may not apply to everything, but when it comes to avoiding a fall, a little prevention goes a long way. Each year, more than one in four people over ...
- 7305 Views
Check Up on Your Health with Annual Health Exam

BCBSIL Connect Team October 3, 2023

Whether it’s getting your annual wellness visit or having your cholesterol checked, you need to keep up with your health screenings. They play a big role in catching small health problems before they become big ones.
- 26671 Views
Be Mindful of Your Lung Health

BCBSIL Connect Team October 3, 2023

Breath is life. Anyone who’s ever had trouble breathing knows how frightening it can be. Sometimes people think breathing issues are part of growing older. A nagging cough or slight wheeze might just be due to a cold, but it could also be a si.....
- 9905 Views
Did You Know Taking Certain Medications Can Raise Your Risk of Diabetes?

BCBSIL Connect Team October 2, 2023

Diabetes is a serious health issue and early detection is vital. If you’re taking medicine for bipolar disorder, schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder, talk to your health care provider. If you are at risk, you may need a simple test to check...
- 2294 Views
Diabetes: If You Can’t Prevent It, You May Be Able to Delay It

BCBSIL Connect Team October 2, 2023

When it comes to diabetes, small changes in your diet and lifestyle can have a big payoff. In fact, they may be able to help you prevent the disease or delay its onset. How? Many people don't know they have prediabetes. With prediabetes, blood.....
- 11369 Views
Healthy Gut, Healthy Life?

BCBSIL Connect Team September 28, 2023

You may have heard that your gut is your second brain. The saying gives a sense of how vital your digestive system is to the rest of your body. But what does it mean? A network of hundreds of millions of nerve cells called neurons line the gut, or...
- 16610 Views
Create a Routine for Better Sleep

BCBSIL Connect Team September 28, 2023

Most Americans have some type of trouble with sleep. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that 1 in 3 American adults say they’re not getting enough sleep every day. And millions of Americans have chronic sleep disorders....
- 7694 Views
Time to Enroll in a Health Plan Again? Already?

BCBSIL Connect Team September 10, 2023

Many of us aren’t big fans of deadlines. We’re busy. Finding time to knock out one more thing on our to-do list can be a hassle. With some deadlines, a little procrastination may not really matter. That’s not the case when it comes ...
- 10909 Views
Why Kids Need Health Insurance

BCBSIL Connect Team September 9, 2023

Children are known for their endless curiosity, cute faces and their ability to come home covered in dirt. Being a trendy pre-teen or adventurous kindergartener comes with its share of coughs and colds, bumps and bruises and mystery rashes....
- 9794 Views
Stay Safe in the Summertime

BCBSIL Connect Team September 7, 2023

For many people, summer is the best time of the year. It’s filled with long days spent outside crammed full of fun activities. But summer brings its own challenges when it comes to keeping your family healthy. Nothing puts the brakes on a good ....
- 17882 Views
Healthy Eating: Avoid Portion Pitfalls

BCBSIL Connect Team September 7, 2023

Most people know they should eat nutritious foods to maintain a healthy weight and avoid serious health problems. Still, there may be a big part of healthy eating you’re not paying enough attention to — portion sizes. What you eat matters...
- 20841 Views

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